1st Locate UK (trading name of Aberdeen Financial Limited) specializes in tracing and debt collection. They’re experts at finding people who’ve moved address and haven’t updated their details with creditors. When standard debt collectors can’t find you, creditors hire 1st Locate UK to track you down. But here’s what matters: 1st Locate UK are NOT bailiffs. They can’t enter your home or take your belongings.
If you owe £6,000+ across multiple debts, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) can stop 1st Locate UK immediately and write off the remaining debt after 5-6 years.
Quick answers#
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home? No. 1st Locate UK are debt collectors and tracing agents, not bailiffs. They can’t force entry, take your belongings, or clamp your vehicle. Don’t be intimidated by letters that sound threatening.
Are 1st Locate UK legitimate? Yes. 1st Locate UK is a trading name of Aberdeen Financial Limited (Company 06934204), FCA-authorised (Reference 672969) and based in Exeter. They specialize in tracing people and collecting debts.
Can an IVA stop 1st Locate UK? Yes. All debts 1st Locate UK collects are unsecured, which means they can be included in an IVA. Once approved, they must stop contact and accept the repayment terms.
Who are 1st Locate UK?#
1st Locate UK is a trading name of Aberdeen Financial Limited (Company 06934204), founded in 2009. They specialize in two services: tracing people who’ve moved and collecting debts from them once found.
Company details:
- Registered office: Third Floor Senate Court, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter, EX1 1NT
- Company number: 06934204
- FCA reference: 672969 (authorised since 1 April 2014)
- Trading name: 1st Locate UK
1st Locate UK is fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA). They work for banks, credit card companies, utilities, and other creditors who’ve lost contact with debtors.
Why is 1st Locate UK contacting me?#
1st Locate UK contacts you because a creditor hired them to find you and collect a debt. This typically happens when you’ve moved address and the creditor can’t locate you through normal means.
The escalation process:
- You fall behind on payments and then move address without telling the creditor
- Creditor loses contact with you (letters return as undeliverable)
- Creditor hires 1st Locate UK to trace you
- 1st Locate UK finds you using databases, credit reference agencies, electoral roll, and other sources
- 1st Locate UK contacts you at your new address demanding payment
This is why you might not recognise 1st Locate UK’s name:
You owed money to British Gas. You moved house and forgot to update your address. British Gas tried to contact you at your old address. The letters bounced back. British Gas hired 1st Locate UK to find you. 1st Locate UK traced you to your new address. Now they’re contacting you on behalf of British Gas.
Who instructs 1st Locate UK:
- Banks and credit card companies
- Utility companies (gas, electricity, water)
- Telecoms providers (mobile phones, broadband)
- Catalogue and mail order companies
- Council tax departments
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home?#
No. 1st Locate UK are debt collectors, not bailiffs.
1st Locate UK has no legal power to enter your home or take your belongings. Their role is to find you and collect payment. They can’t enforce debt through bailiffs unless they first obtain a County Court Judgment.
What 1st Locate UK CAN do:
- Trace you to your new address
- Send letters and emails
- Call you (between 8am and 9pm)
- Report the debt to credit reference agencies
- Take you to court (see below)
What 1st Locate UK CANNOT do:
- Force entry to your home
- Enter without your permission
- Take your belongings
- Clamp your vehicle
- Threaten you with immediate bailiff action
- Claim they’ll “seize your goods” without a court order
Can 1st Locate UK take me to court?#
Yes—and this is where their real power lies.
While 1st Locate UK can’t send bailiffs directly, they can take legal action if the debt remains unpaid.
The legal escalation process:
1. Pre-Action Protocol (30-day warning)
Before 1st Locate UK can issue a court claim, they must follow the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims. They’ll send a formal “Letter of Claim” giving you 30 days to respond.
2. County Court claim
If you don’t respond or arrange payment, 1st Locate UK will instruct solicitors to issue a County Court claim. You’ll receive court papers (form N1) at your address.
3. County Court Judgment (CCJ)
If you don’t defend the claim, the court will enter a judgment against you. This is a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which:
- Stays on your credit file for 6 years
- Makes it nearly impossible to get credit, mortgages, or phone contracts
- Allows 1st Locate UK to enforce through bailiffs
4. Enforcement after a CCJ
Once 1st Locate UK has a CCJ, they can apply for:
- Attachment of Earnings Order: Your employer deducts money from your wages
- Charging Order: 1st Locate UK secures the debt against your property (if you’re a homeowner)
- Warrant of Control: The court issues a warrant allowing actual bailiffs to seize goods
Don’t ignore court papers. If you receive a “Claim Form” (form N1), you have 14 days to respond.
Is the debt really yours?#
Before you pay 1st Locate UK anything, verify the debt is actually yours.
Request proof under the Consumer Credit Act 1974:
If the debt is a credit agreement (credit card, loan, mobile phone contract), you have the right to request a copy of the original agreement under Section 77 or 78.
Write to 1st Locate UK:
Aberdeen Financial Limited (trading as 1st Locate UK)
Third Floor Senate Court
Southernhay Gardens
Exeter
EX1 1NTSay:
“I’m writing regarding account reference [your reference number]. Under Section 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, I request a true copy of the executed credit agreement for this debt. I also request a full breakdown of how the current balance has been calculated. I don’t acknowledge this debt until I receive proof.”
1st Locate UK has 12 working days to respond. If they can’t provide a valid agreement, they can’t enforce the debt through the courts.
When is a debt statute-barred?
If you haven’t acknowledged a debt or made a payment in 6 years (England/Wales) or 5 years (Scotland), it might be statute-barred.
Statute-barred debts can’t be enforced through the courts. 1st Locate UK can still ask you to pay, but they can’t take legal action.
Warning: If you make a payment (even £1) or acknowledge the debt in writing, the 6-year clock resets.
Will 1st Locate UK accept a settlement?#
Yes—1st Locate UK typically accepts full and final settlements of 40-70% of the debt value.
Like most debt collectors, 1st Locate UK would rather receive a lump sum settlement than wait years for monthly payments or an IVA dividend.
How to negotiate a settlement:
- Don’t offer first. Let 1st Locate UK tell you what they want.
- Start lower. If they want 70%, offer 40-50%.
- Explain your circumstances. “I’ve been offered help from family, but they can only lend £X.”
- Get it in writing. Never pay until you have written confirmation that the settlement clears the debt in full.
- Pay via bank transfer and keep proof of payment.
How to stop 1st Locate UK with an IVA#
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding agreement between you and all your creditors (including 1st Locate UK) to repay what you can afford over 5-6 years. At the end, any remaining debt is written off—typically 60-80%.
Why an IVA stops 1st Locate UK:
Once your IVA is approved, all creditors—including 1st Locate UK—must:
- Stop contacting you
- Stop legal action
- Freeze interest and charges
- Accept the monthly payment your Insolvency Practitioner distributes
What debts can be included?
All of the debts 1st Locate UK collects are unsecured, which means they’re includable in an IVA:
- Credit cards
- Personal loans
- Overdrafts
- Mobile phone contracts
- Catalogue debts
- Store cards
- Utility arrears
To qualify for an IVA, you typically need:
- £6,000+ in unsecured debt
- Two or more creditors
- A regular income (employed or self-employed)
- Spare income after essential bills (usually £80-100/month minimum)
Check if you qualify for an IVA
How to deal with 1st Locate UK calls#
You have rights:
Request written communication only. You can tell 1st Locate UK (verbally or in writing) that you only want to be contacted by post. They must comply under FCA rules. This stops the calls.
Don’t admit the debt until you’ve verified it. If you don’t recognise the debt, say: “I need to see proof of this debt in writing before I can discuss it.”
Don’t make a payment just to make them go away. Paying even £1 can restart the statute-barred clock if the debt is over 6 years old.
If you’re vulnerable, tell them. If you have mental health problems, serious illness, disability, or are in crisis, declare this. 1st Locate UK must follow FCA “Consumer Duty” rules and adjust their approach.
How to complain about 1st Locate UK#
1. Complain to 1st Locate UK directly
Write to:
Aberdeen Financial Limited
Third Floor Senate Court
Southernhay Gardens
Exeter
EX1 1NTInclude your reference number, dates of the issue, what happened, and what you want.
They have 8 weeks to respond.
2. Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
If 1st Locate UK doesn’t respond or you’re not satisfied:
- Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
- Phone: 0800 023 4567
3. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
If 1st Locate UK has breached FCA rules:
- Website: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-firm
- Phone: 0800 111 6768
1st Locate UK contact details#
Registered office: Aberdeen Financial Limited Third Floor Senate Court Southernhay Gardens Exeter EX1 1NT
Company number: 06934204 FCA reference: 672969 Trading name: 1st Locate UK
Regulatory status:
- FCA Authorised since 1 April 2014
- CSA (Credit Services Association) Member
- ICO Registered
If you’re struggling with debt and want to find out what options are available, use our free IVA calculator to see if you qualify and how much debt you could write off. It takes 2 minutes and won’t affect your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home?#
No. 1st Locate UK are tracing and debt collection specialists, not bailiffs. They have no legal power to enter your property, take your belongings, or clamp your vehicle.
Are 1st Locate UK legitimate?#
Yes. 1st Locate UK is a trading name of Aberdeen Financial Limited (Company 06934204), fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reference 672969) and operating since 2009.
How did 1st Locate UK find my new address?#
1st Locate UK specializes in tracing people. They use credit reference agencies, electoral roll data, utility connection records, and other legal sources to find people who’ve moved address.
Will 1st Locate UK take me to court?#
Yes, they can. If you don’t pay or arrange a plan, 1st Locate UK will instruct solicitors to issue a County Court claim. If you ignore the claim, you’ll get a CCJ which damages your credit file for 6 years.
Can I stop 1st Locate UK with an IVA?#
Yes. An IVA stops all debt collection activity, including 1st Locate UK. Once approved, they must cease contact and accept the monthly payments your Insolvency Practitioner distributes. Check if you qualify
Will 1st Locate UK accept a settlement?#
Yes. 1st Locate UK typically accepts full and final settlements of 40-70% of the debt value. They prefer lump sum settlements because cash today is worth more than years of small payments. Always get agreements in writing before paying.
If you’re dealing with 1st Locate UK and have £6,000+ in debt across multiple creditors, an IVA could stop them immediately and write off a significant portion of your debt.